Crackplot!

[ebonyjaenelle72]

Jaenelle is playing, and Jaenelle playing is always a little dangerous, but that's all right. Because she's having fun! And so, playing with herbs and some magic, she's made a very curious illusion on the front lawn of an elegant garden, very like her own in SaDiablo Hall, water trickling over the rocks. However, a sudden noise startles her and she

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[hardlyagravated]

Laurel remembers. Laurel remembers everything. Which is why she is pale and not quite steady as she sinks down on the Mansions front steps, a hand going to her mouth.

[crimson_sugar]

And it's a Sugar and Sophie who happen by.

The little girl pulls Sugar's dress. "Miss Sugar, why is the lady ill?"

And Sugar, not heartless, stops by, and sits, the girl next to her. "Madam, are you alright?"

[hardlyagravated]

"I'm... I'm fine." She runs a hand over her hair, lightly, then manages a tight smile. "Thank you."

[crimson_sugar]

Evidently not.

"You look ill, Madam." To Sophie, "Go to the kitchen, darling, and bring back water for the lady."

Obediently, the child goes.

"I will stay, until she returns, if you don't mind," she says, concerned.

[hardlyagravated]

"Not at all. I've just had a bit of a shock, but it's passed now."

[crimson_sugar]

Ah, Laurel.

"You did seem rather distressed, Madam," Sugar concedes, once the girl is gone. "Is there anything one might do?"

[hardlyagravated]

"I'll gladly take the water, when it arrives."

[crimson_sugar]

"It will," she says, though she hopes Sophie doesn't make a booboo - she's prone to awkwardness.

"My name is Sugar," she offers, in the meantime.

[hardlyagravated]

"Laurel of Orkney."

[crimson_sugar]

"A pleasure." She smiles. "Are you related to one Gaheris, then?"

[hardlyagravated]

"He's my brother by marriage. And I'm his wife's cousin, so yes two ways, I suppose. Have you met my lord Gaheris then?" And she is trying so hard not to picture the memories of Gaheris' end, mostly successfully.

[crimson_sugar]

"On our first day. He was very intersted in Sophie, and kind to her."

Sugar tilts her head.

"He said he had a daughter, but then claimed to have problems with remembering things."

[hardlyagravated]

"Aye, he did - does. Though he's the best of men with his daughter, always has been, in his way."

[crimson_sugar]

Sugar nods. “He was a wonderful man to her,” she says, softly, kindly. Gratefully, even.

Sugar, who never had a father or a mother, who saved Sophie from neglect, is immeasurably grateful to Gaheris for having been, if only for a morning, a father figure to Sophie.

[hardlyagravated]

"He's always been strange, but usually gentle."

[crimson_sugar]

“Usually?” Curious, with a small edge of worry. She was thinking of letting him spend time with Sophie, if he asked.

Speaking of which… Sugar wonders where the girl went. It’s awful long, for a glass of water.